Improvement in vapor-generating burners



I'. H. SHEPHERD. Y Vapor-Generating Burner.

Patented 1an. 7; 1879.

N'FETERSA PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER WSMXNGTN- D c' FRANCIS EL'SHEPHERD, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO SHEPHERD varon eas oo.,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN VAPOR-GENERATING BURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. QRLBHS, dated January 7, 1879; application iiled November 14, 1878.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANcIs H. SHEPHERD, of Davenport, Scott county, State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vapor-Generating Burners and mode of attachment of same to street-lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal central section of my improved vapor generating burner, enlarged, and disconnected from the fluid-reservoir and street-lamp. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section in the line so of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section in the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the packing-beads of the supply-tube. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a street-lamp with the fluid-reservoir and the vapor-generating burner applied to it, and Fig. 6, a detail view of the oil-reservoir and a portion of its conveying-tube; and Figs. 7 and 8 are end and top views of the same detail.

My invention relates to an improvement in that description of vapor-burner which em- 1 ploys an auxiliary burner or jet for vaporizing the fluid in its ilow from the reservoir which produces the flame for illumination.

The nature of my invention consists in cer tain constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter described and specifically claimed, whereby cheapness in construction, durability, and convenience of manipulation are secured; also, convenience and cheapness of repair, and of application to a lamp-post are afforded; also, all inconvenience from too rapid ilow of oil from the reservoir to the auxiliary and main jets is avoided; also, great nicety of adjustment of the supply of unoxidized vapor to the auxiliary burner used for generating the vapor from the iiuid, and of the vapor or gas generated to the oxidizing-chamber and main jet or burner is effected; and also a vapor-generator is produced inwhich the unoxidized vapor is used for heating the plate and its adjuncts for con- Verting the fluid into gaseous vapor, andthe chamber in which the air -is mixedwith the vapor is located remote from the chamber in which it is generated, and thus only unoxidized vapor is passed through the heating-jet and then used for heating purposes, and only vapor which is oxidized on its way to the illumination-jet is used for illumination.

The whole arrangement is also such that the draft of the heating-j et is maintained while the heater and nearly every part of the generator are inclosed in a jointed case, which can be opened and closed without being detached from the apparatus. The mixing or oxidizing chamber is also detachable, for the purpose of allowing access to the removable needlehole collet, and the replacement of the collet when it is worn out by a new one, thus saving.

the expense of a new generator and vaporburner.

The generator and burner A is l'formed mainly of a single casting of metal, adapted for having the various apertures and passages drilled in it, as shown in the drawings. The casting is formed with two downwardly-divergent limbs, a b, which are united near their upper ends by a horizontal branch, c. On one i of the limbs a vertical branch, d, is formed, starting about midway of the height of the limb c, and terminating a short distance above the top of the same.

The casting is formed with a collar and short lateral and longitudinal extensions, as at e f g h i j la, and also with a conical extension, la', on the inner lower portion of its limb a, and a broad surface-plate, l, on the flower inner portion of its limb b, as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

The limbs a and b are drilled downward through the extensions i j to a point a little below the centers of the extensions g 7L; and the branch o is drilled horizontally through the extension 7c to a point which intersects the chambers m m1 of the limbs a and b. Thepas'- sage m2 thus formed in the branch c is the means of communication from chamber m to chamber m1. The drill-holes in the extensions i j lc are pluggedV gas-tight by square-headed screw-plugs a al a2, which can be removed for cleaning out the chambers m m1 and passage m2. The extension g is drilled cylindrically 2 ELll until it intersects the chamber m1, and then a conical drill is made to drill a conical passage through the conical extension k. By this operation an auxiliary jet-tube for heating purposes is formed at k. The passage formed in the extension g is screw-tapped, and a regulating-screw, g1, having a reduced cylindrical end, g2, is fitted to it, as shown. The extension his drilled through, so as to have the passage h formed in it intersect the chamber m of the limb b. For a short distance the pas sage h is enlarged by a counterbore, and into this enlarged portion a tube, D2, is inserted, as shown. This tube connects with the supply-reservoir C, as will be presently described.

The branch d of the metal casting for the burner and generator A is drilled downward to near its bottom, and a chamber, m3, is thereby formed; and the extension f of this branch is drilled through horizontal with a cylindrical drill until the chamber m3 is intersected by the passage formed in the extension f, and then a conical drill is used to drill a conical jet-passage, m4, through the outer portion of the limb cof the casting, and thereby form a jet communication between chambers m m1 and chamber m3. The passage in the extension f is constructed and provided with a regulating-screw, g1, in the same manner as the passage in extension g. On top of thebranch d a removable collet, D, with a needle-hole through its top, is ltted, so as to rest upon the collar e, as shown. 0n the outside of the collar e, at opposite points, vertical air-grooves p are formed, as shown in Fig. 2.

Around the collar of the branch d a long tube, E, is tted by means of a tapering joint, and on top of this tube the main gas or vapor burner or tip F, with slit in it, is tted.

Between the slitted portion of the burner F and the collet D a vapor-mixing chamber, D1, is formed, as shown.

The casting of the generator and burner A has lugs q q formed on it, and through these lugs pins r r are passed. On the outer ends of the pins r iianged and Haring plates G Gr Y are hinged. These plates Gr, with their flanges,

form a vertical draft-chamber, and exclude lateral blasts of air from the jet at 7c', and also confine the heat which is produced for generating the Vapor between the limbs a and b until it escapes over the top ends of said plates. 1

From an inspection of the dra-win gs it will be seen that the lian s s oi' the plates G fit against the surfaces of the limbs a b, and thus, in conjunction with these limbs, form a pyramidal-shaped tube, open at top and bottom.

The tube D2 is packed with beads, or beads and asbestus, as signified in Fig. l at H. This packing is confined at both vends by wire-gauze diaphragms t t. Beyond this packing a supply-cock, u, is provided. 'From the cock u the pipe or tube D2 is extended up to and in communication with the fluid-reservoir C, it being first passed through a hole, o, in one of the inclined frame -pieces of the street-lamp I.

The fluid-reservoir is provided with an eye-lug or loop-extension, ac, and the street-lamp frame I with a hook, y. The loop x is passed over the hook y, and by such means, togetherwith the tube D2, which is passed down through the hole e of the lamp-frame, the reservoir is firmly held in an inclined position on the outside of the lamp-iframe, as shown in the drawi ings.

The operation is as follows: Oil is supplied from the reservoir U through the supply-tube D2 tothe cock u. The flame of a spirit-lamp is now applied directly under the hinged plates G and heater-plate surface l, and when these parts are sufficiently heated, which occurs in about ten or ifteen seconds, a small quantity of fluid is allowed to flow through cock u (by opening said cock) into the packed pipe D2. rIlhis fluid percolates slowly through the beads, or beads and asbestus, and, entering at 7L', strikes against the inner side of hot plate-surface Z of chamber m, and by the action of heat thereof is vaporized and caused to lill the chamber m, passage m2, and chamber ml. The flame of the lamp may now be withdrawn and the jet-tube k opened by turning back the regulating-screw g1 opposite to it. This done, the jet i'rom tube 7c is lighted. The ame from the jet at 7c strikes the outside of the broad surface-plate l of limb b centrally, and spreads laterally in opposite directions, and thereby heats the iiuid at the moment of its entrance into chamber m to such an extent as to insure its vaporization. The full flow of `iluid is now turned on at the cock u. In time the limbs a and b become intensely hot, and the unoxidized substance ascends in chamber on through passage m2, and descends into chamber m1, and passes out of the jet at la. gaseous vapor which cannot escape at 7c becomes compressed in ch amber ml, and, the screw g1 opposite passage m4 being turned back, it escapes through the open conical jetpassage m4 into the chamber m3, and from thence flows through the needle-hole of the removable collet D into the mixing or oxidizing chamber D. Here the gaseous vapor is met by currents ot' air, which liow into the chamber Dl through the upwardfascending channels or grooves p p, and, when thoroughly oxidized, escapes through the slit of the burner F, and is burned for the purposes of illumination.

The mode of attaching the reservoir to the street-lamp frame by means of a hook and loop, and the conducting-tube passed through plate l opposite the point where the oil rst en ters, in connection with the upward 4and downward iowing ofthe vaporized unoxidized substance through the limbs b and a ofthe gener- The ator, together with the discharge ofthe vapor at lc for heating purposes, and its discharge above k' through the jet-passage m4, is a very ei'ective mode of insuring perfect vaporization of the fluid before it arrives at the mixingehamber D1.

The application of the regulating-screws g1 on the side of the generator and burner A is a rvery useful improvement, as by this plan long screws extending vertically through the pasf sages leading to the jet-tubes are dispensed with.

The employment of screws of the constructlon shown for regulating the tlow of the gaseous,vapor is important, as they not only serve for shutting oit' the gaseous vapor, but

also for controlling its extent of How, the upper screw g1 serving to regulate the size of the main jet to the minimum and maximum.

The removable collet D enables the user to take oft' a worn-out collet and replace it with a new one at triing cost. l

The airpassages and air-chamber, whereby the vapor is oxidized before it passes through the main burner, insure a rich inammable vapor i'or the name-burner.

The hinged plates G, together with their anges s, form a draft-tube, which insures a supply of air to the vaporjet at k', and at the 4same time contines the hot air about the limbs a and b ot' the generator and burner A; and the plates, by being hinged, afford convenience for ready access to the jet 7c.

The asbestus packing, with the beads mingled with it, will not only serve to prevent too rapid ilow ot the oil from thereservoir, but will also prevent the passage of too much heat toward the fluid-reservoir, and thus accidents from explosions at the reservoir will be prevented.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The single casting for avapor burner and generator, consisting of the limbs a b, branches c d, extensions f g L i j k, collar e, surtace l, lugs q q, and conical extension 7c', substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The single casting for a vapor burner and geilierator, provided with passages and chambers drilled into it in the lines of the extensions fg h j 7a, and down the branch tl to the passage in extension f, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination ofthe chainberm, passage mz, chamber m, jet-passages at la' and m4, and heating surface-plate l, and chamber m3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4.. The chamber m1, with its jet-escape passage at 7c for the unoxidized vapor opposite the vapor-generating chamber m, and with a jet-escape passage, 'm4, on a higher plane for the vapor to pass to the oxidizing-chamber and thence to the main burner, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The regulating-screws g1, applied horizontally and opposite the vapor-jet passages atl m4 and lc', in colnbination with the chamber m1, passage m2, and chamber mi, for the purpose of controlling the escape of the vapor from the chamber mi, and for regulating the size of the main jet and heater flame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The casting, of angular or arched form,

with chambers and passage thereof of corresponding form, the said chambers or passage being tubes ot' themselves, and connecting with one another in the manner shown, Whcreby the vapor is generated at the lower portion of' chamber m, and is then compelled to pass upward in contact with heated surfaces, then horizontally, and then downward to the auxiliary burner at le', substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination ofthe removable collet D, having a needle-hole in its top, and the chambers DV1 m3 m1 m, passages m2 m4, and main burner or tip F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The air and vapor mixing chamber Dl, formed by a removable tube-section, E, in combination with the chamber ma, passage m4, chamber ml, air-passages p p, and main burner F, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

9. rlhe hinged and hanged plates G G, in combination with the vapor burner and generator, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination of the reservoir C, applied in position by the devices described, supply-tube D2, bead or bead and asbestus packing H, and the vapor burner and generator, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l1.. llhe reservoir C, having the loop orA eyelug fr, in combination with the lamp-frame I, having a passage, t, and with the tube D2, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l2. The combination ofthe vaporAburner tip F, chamber Dl, having air-inlets between the tube E and collar e, the removable collet D, having an aperture in its top, and the chamber m3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANCIS H. SHEPHERD. Witnesses:

A. MINER, WM. Rice. 

